Cucumber Rolls

Jen and I have recently been getting recipe ideas from Pinterest, which is where this little gem comes from. I made this appetizer for a friend’s dinner party, which almost felt like cheating because of how easy and quick it is to make (especially since our friend Iv had been laboring in the kitchen for … Continue reading

Borsch

Borsch is a very traditional Russian beets-based stew. It is typically very heavy, savory, and perfect for cold winter nights. I think traditionally it came to be as a way to combine whatever vegetables were available with scraps of meat and fattiness into a hot stew. But I obviously had the option to use more … Continue reading

Honey Lemon Salmon on Watercress Salad

As per usual, I wanted to cook a simple healthy meal and came across this recipe on epicurious. The beauty of this particular salmon dish was that it required no complex ingredients, the prep time was only a couple minutes, and it pairs well with so many side dishes. I chose to serve the salmon … Continue reading

Sunday Brunch

Brunching is one of my favorite things to do in Manhattan, as the city is packed with a plethora of brunch spots that can suit any desire for a traditional (Bubby’s) or nouveau American brunch (Five Points), an Asian Fusion brunch with a DIY Bloody Mary Bar (Double Crown), a Chinese dim sum brunch (Ping’s … Continue reading

Tomato and Feta Baked Eggs

This recipe is from one of my favorite cooking blogs, Kevin’s Closet Cooking, and it has quickly become my favorite breakfast dishes to make.  I was first introduced to the delicious world of baked eggs by Five Points, one of my top NYC brunch spots..  No matter how many times I go, I have to … Continue reading

Tzatziki

Jen and I have been meaning to make tzatziki ever since our trip to Greece in 2007.  We even bought the herb mix for it at the market during our trip. But somehow we’ve managed to forget until Jen decided to concoct the Mediterranean Feast of Baked Stuffed Peppers and Falafel Sandwiches. I used a … Continue reading

Lemon-Dill Halibut

It was a Sunday evening and Natalya and I were embarking on another complex series of recipes from Kei (Harissa Salsa with Housemade Ricotta bruschetta and preparing the brine for Roasted Chicken).  We knew it was probably going to take hours for those recipes and we would still need a main dish for dinner.  I … Continue reading

Poached Salmon

Jen and I have been on a greasy, MSG-ridden (yet delicious) Asian food binge for a few weeks, so we decided to cook something a little more healthy for lunch this week. Enter… poached salmon. You boil it, so how can it possibly be anything but healthy?! Jen perused poached salmon recipes on Allrecipes.com and … Continue reading

Fried Home-Style Potatoes (assuming your home is Russia)

Another savory recipe from my Belarussian roommate!  Natalya had taken me and several friends to the famed Tatiana restaurant located in Brighton Beach.  This glitzy Russian palace/night club features a dining experience unlike any other.  From the tome of a menu to the constant flow of vodka to the crazy production that is the weekend … Continue reading

Russian Salad (Salat)

Another recipe contribution from my Belarussian roomie – Russian salad or salat!  To stick with the whole Russian theme, this salad is a great complement to Holodnik (Russian cold soup).  Furthermore, because the majority of the ingredients are the same, it is very convenient to make both dishes at the same time for an overall … Continue reading